Cartier Tank Must

There are certain designs that just resonate throughout the years and remain evergreen despite changing trends and tastes.  The Cartier Tank, in all its hundred-plus years of production, is one such design. Whether finished in gold, stainless steel, or vermeil; whether Française, Chinoise, Americaine, or Normale; the Tank is one watch that truly deserves the greatly-overused term ‘iconic.’ Cartier introduced the Tank in 1917, with a run of six pieces — given, or so the legend goes, to American General Joseph Pershing and his staff. The design of the Tank was supposedly inspired by the Renault FT-17 tanks Cartier glimpsed on the battlefield of the Great War. (Cartier took the look of the Renault tank's treads and applied it to the lugs, which were integrated via tread-like brancards into the case itself.) That first run of six pieces increased to 33 by 1920, and by the end of the 20th century, that number stood well into the hundreds of thousands. In sheer volume alone, the Tank — in all its various models — is Cartier's largest line of watches.  The Must de Cartier Tank was first introduced in the mid 1970s and offered a more accessible price point for many who adored the popular design. Instead of utilizing traditional precious metal cases, the Must de Cartier Tank was made of gold-plated sterling silver, but retained the classic silhouette and aesthetics that was so coveted by many.  The Must collection returned in 2021 to much applause and adoration from a Cartier-crazy market. This particular example, a Reference WSTA0052, features a 26mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, sapphire cabochon crown, a satin silver dial with printed black 'Roman' indices and a matching blued-steel ‘sword’ handset. Powered by a quartz movement, this piece comes fitted with a stainless steel multi-link bracelet with a hidden, double fold-over clasp. Accompanied by its factory goods including inner and outer boxes, books, plastic case protector, and warranty, this piece  offers a ton of value and timeless looks. What better way to break into Cartier ownership than with this prototypical icon?